Latch for tail gates



April 25, 1950 E. T. NEWELL LATCH FORTAIL GATES Filed May 9, 1949 INVENTOR. 6 EDWARD T NEWELL ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 11950 UNITED STATES PATENT ora -cs Application 9, 1949, Serial No. 92.2.6

'1 Claims. (Cl. 298-38) 1 This invention relates to latches for tall gates and is particularly adapted to latch tail gates used in connection with dump bodies on trucks and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a latch for holding the tail gate of dump bodies closed. and a latch that can be operated at any angle of the truck body and positively locked-in holding position while holding the end gate closed.

K further object of the invention is to provide an operating means that will unhook the latch from the end gate by a push movement on the control rod, and a pull movement on the control rod while latching the latch. It has been found to be more diillcult to hook the latch requiring more force than to unlatch the same, therefore, the latch latched by the pull action on the control rod and unlocked by the push action is most effective. I

A still further object of the invention is providing a simple means of adjusting the pressure of the latch against the tail gate locking pin in order to insure a complete closing of the tafl gate.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings. specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a truck body having my new and improved tall gate latch associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a rear end view of the tail gate and latch mechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the latch. parts of the body broken away for convenience of illustration, the latch being shown holding the tail gate closed. 7 Figure 4 is the same as Figure 3 except that the latch is shown in unlocked position permitting the tail gate to swing open.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section illustrating the operating rods and cranks controlling the operation of my new and improved latch.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

I have illustrated a dump body I, which is pivotally mounted at 2 to the frame 3 of the truck. The tail gate 4 is pivotally mounted to the truck body at 5 and is held against the body of the truck by the action of the locking latch 6. This locking latch is pivotally mounted at 1 to the brackets IA of the special bracket 8, which is directly secured to the body I by suitable fastening means, as the bolts 9.

Located on the lower corners of the gate 4 are outwardly extending locking pins it, which are adapted to nest into the brackets I at H after which the point II of the latch t engages the same as indicated in Figure 3, holding. the gate against the body of the truck in closed position. The latch 6 is operated by the action of the bell clflflk it, which is pivotally mounted to the latch a Connected to the arm ll of the bell crank is an adjustable toggle bolt It. The opposite end of the toggle bolt is pivotally connected to the bracket 8 at 8A, or it could be connected directly to both, although I have found by using a special bracket the whole assembly of the latch is more easily a plied to the body of the truck.

Referring to gure 5, the arm ll of the bell crank I3 is pivotally connected to the connecting link l8, which in turn is pivotally connected to the crank it. The crank it is keyed to the cross shaft 20 running transverse the truck body and adapted to receive another crank similar to crank I9 on the opposite side of the body for operating the oppositely disposed locking latch ii. The cross shaft 20 is rotated by the crank 22 by way of the connecting rod 23 leading to a. lever in the driver's seat.

The connecting rod 2! is pivotally connected to the crank 22 at 24, this point being in line with the pivot connection of the body I to the frame 3 of the truck at 2 permitting the body to be raised and lowered without efiecting the opem tion of the latch 6. V

In the operation of my new and improved tail gate latch, when it is desired to unlock the latch from the locking pins IQ of the tail gate 4 the operator operates a lever, not here shown, causing the connecting rod 23 to move in the direction of the arrow. This rotates the bell crank it to the position shown in Figure 4. In so doing the toggle bolt I6 is jack-knifed as indicated about its pivot point 8A and its pivot connection 25 relative to the crank arm I.

When it is desired to hook or look the latch on to the locking pins Ill when the tail gate 4 is closed the rod 23 is pulled by the operating lever which rocks the bell crank l3 to the position shown in Figure 3 moving the pivot point 2! slightly beyond the center line between the pivot point 8A and the pivot point it. This travel is limited by the limit stop member 26 engaging the toggle bolt l6 illustrated in both Figures 3 and 4.

Due to the fact that the bell crank i3 and the toggle bolt l6 pass the center line of the toggle arrangement, the tendency for the gate to open the latch 6 is resisted by the pressure exerted between the arm II and the toggle bolt it be- 8 tween the pivot points and 8A, there being no strain applied to the connecting rod 28 in holding the'latch closed or against the stop pins II. This, toggle arrangement is very rugged and resists the tendency of the gate to open the latch, most of the pressure coming on the pivot point I until the toggle, arrangement is moved to the position illustrated in Figure 4.

A spring 813 is provided for assisting in maintaining the toggle bolt beyond center. This is particularly necessary when wear takes place i the control links and the toggle assembly. Ordinarily the adjusting nut 80 is adjusted to cause tension within the toggle bolt line when the control lever is moved to locking position, but there is a point in between this adjustment wherein the spring becomes necessary to maintain the toggle bolt, as stated above, past center.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A dump truck tail gate latch mechanism comprising a dump body pivotally mounted on a 4 means between two of said cranks and said latches for respectively operating said latches, an operating member, and a pivotal connection between truck frame, a tail gate pivoted on said body,

latch pins on each side of said gate, latches pivoted on each side of said body for cooperation with said pins to lock said gate in closed position, a crank shaft journalled on said body and having cranks extending therefrom, connecting said operating member and another of said cranks for operating said crank shaft, said pivotal connection being substantially co-axial with the pivotal mounting of said body to permit operation of said body without actuating said latches.

2. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a bell crank pivotaily mounted on each latch, a toggle link pivoted between one end of said bell crank and said body, and a connecting link between the other end of said bell crank and, one of said cranks.

3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein a stop limits breaking of the toggle connections in one direction with the toggles over center to prevent accidental release of said latches.

4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein spring means bias said toggle to locked position.

5. A mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said toggle link is adjustable in length.

6. A mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein each latch and toggle link are pivoted to a bracket that has a socket for the respective latch pin, said brackets being removably mounted on said body.

'7. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch is opened by rearward movement of said operating member and closed by forward movement of said member.

EDWARD T. NEWELL.

No references cited. 

